Orbital by bill zhao copyright 2017 Bill Zhao Table of Contents act one (earth)

Symphony, Solar System
“
Shields!” ordered Cheng. “Prepare to fire engines for the Icarus. Use
whatever firepower you can to hold off the fleet. We leave now.” Mar n
could see Cheng’s dead seriousness even striking into his son. Max ran for
the bridge in a hurry.
“
That’s where we were going anyway, Cheng. You progress nowhere with
this!” yelled the cap ve CEO.
Yen looked back at Coves, replying “Only this way he won’t be a
prisoner there. Besides, they want him safe.”
“
They?! I thought you were working with Orbi-Sec, not FOR them! Ha! Yet
again you cowards kneel before the higher power! Mar n tempted Cheng’s
fury too much. The old but able Admiral took one of his soldier’s rifle’s and
slammed the stock across Coves’ face with one swi strike. Mar n fell to
the ground, unconscious.
“
I’ve heard too much filth from you” mu ered Cheng at the man on the
floor. He turned to Derek. “So you’re the VIP. You don’t look very
important. And yet Coves would sooner see a thousand ships fall to
oblivion in pursuit of you than to lose hold of you. I’ve known that man for
the greater half of my life and now I know whatever is on the Icarus is
worth uncovering.”
Derek looked up at the man. He would not be considered tall but the
respect he commands showed that it more than made up for it. “Tom,
Amanda, they’re still being held-”

---

“
Don’t worry. We have a plan for them. Once we lure the majority of their
fleet a er us, which they
will
send, we will assault the Geisen base. My
men know its workings, its intricacies. Your friends will be safe. Coves and
his men wanted only one thing, to get you onto the Icarus and destroy the
evidence a er forcing you to open the safe room.The one thing I am
concerned about is that vola le Opera ons Commander, Wya Nathanial.
Thanks to his impulsivity, he’ll send his fastest ships onto us as well as most
of the fleet. This is also why the most cri cal part of this mission is this
getaway right now. The temporary commander of Orbi-Sec is Janet Arkin;
she leads the hundred ships en route to Geisen. Chorus will divert and
strike once the USOC fleet is a er us.”
“
So it’s just Symphony that will be flying to the Icarus?”
“
Trust me. It is more than enough” finished the Admiral. The ship shook
into mo on and shi ed forward. It seemed to pick speed up quick. “I had
this ship in par cular ou i ed with the latest interceptor engine and
a erburner units as well as Heavy Railgun Cannons mounted to the back.
Any speeder that can catch up to us will be obliterated. Come, let’s get you
into a seat.” The admiral held out his hand and helped Derek up. He led
him down the main corridor and the army of NorthCo soldiers followed.
“Destroyers such as these aren’t much in terms of accommoda on, but I’m
sure you’ll se le here just fine for this trip. Our rooms here are mostly
filled since we had to cramp all our forces into two warships. It may be a
big vessel, but we are a big army. Soon to be the biggest in the galaxy.”
Cheng lead Derek to the barracks. They took up many hallways and
probably across many more floors. “Here. 17A has yet to be filled. Last
three bunks near the corner. There are ra ons of food and water in the tray
as well as a rifle and sidearm in the footlocker. I trust you know how to
shoot?”